While I note its explanation that “scientific and epidemiological studies of the health effects of exposure to particulate matter” have been based on a 24-hour duration, some factors unique to Singapore are worth considering.

First, many large countries have temperate continental weather patterns, in which the weather tends to change slowly, while Singapore has a tropical coastal weather pattern, where the weather changes quickly.

In larger countries, a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) would therefore be fairly accurate in measuring a person’s exposure to haze.

In Singapore, due to quick changes in wind direction, the haze condition 24 hours ago might differ substantially from the condition now. In this situation, the 24-hour PSI is only a mathematical average.
Second, Singapore is densely built-up, with a good public transport system. Hence, except for some activities such as construction, it is not necessary for most people to stay outdoors for a long time.

For example, one needs only to spend 30 minutes outdoors at most before boarding a bus.

Third, Singapore is an affluent country; a significant proportion of households have air conditioners, public transport is air-conditioned and there are many air-conditioned shopping centres.

Kudos also to grassroots organisations for opening up air-conditioned facilities to residents needing refuge from the haze. Most people here would therefore not have to be exposed to the haze for a long time, much less a 24-hour period.

During hazy conditions, individuals’ decisions tend to be short-term in nature, such as whether to go outdoors, stay indoors or be in air-conditioned places. Nevertheless, most people want to minimise their exposure to the haze.

An hourly PSI would help them achieve this. Moreover, for people with health conditions and who are more sensitive to the haze, a 24-hour or three-hour PSI might be misleading.

While the 24-hour or three-hour PSI may appear acceptable due to a lower PSI earlier, the haze condition at the moment might pose an unnecessary risk to them.

Therefore, while the 24-hour PSI may be useful for macro-level decision-making — for example, whether to shut schools and stop other activities such as construction — an hourly PSI has relevance to Singapore’s urban environment at the micro level.

Individuals can then make informed decisions on how to carry out their activities.

NTUC FairPrice is among seven companies that have not signed a declaration stating that their paper products are free of raw materials from firms being investigated for the forest fires in Indonesia.

Ten other companies have signed the form, said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), which had contacted those that had paper products certified under its green label scheme.

About 20 per cent of the paper products carried by FairPrice are sourced from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), one of the five firms under probe, through a local distributor.
"We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contribute to the haze," said FairPrice chief executive Seah Kian Peng, without specifying what the actions would be.

He said the firm had approached APP to clarify its practices.

In the meantime, the supermarket chain said it would continue to carry APP products.

Late last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) began legal action against the five companies - Singapore-listed APP and four Indonesian firms - it believes to be behind the burning.

Yesterday, APP told The Straits Times it had provided information in response to NEA's request, and invited the agency's officials to visit its operations in Indonesia.

It said: "We need to respect the ongoing investigations and efforts by the government of Indonesia and not jump to conclusions." It also said it would work with all parties to find a solution to the haze.

Among the seven firms that have not signed the declaration, printer paper supplier Mukim Fine Papers has stopped buying from APP as well as two other companies that are Indonesian.

"We will sell the remaining stock and then stop taking from these companies," said its business development manager Ben Chua, 41. "The companies are still under investigation but, judging from public sentiment, we want to signal to APP that we do not accept such actions."

He said he will sign the declaration when all his firm's APP stock has been sold in about a month or two.

Another company, Malaysian Newsprint Industries, said it did not work with the firms fingered but was waiting for its legal team to go over the declaration before it signed the form, said its technical support supervisor Tan Kin Chyuan.

A third company, Universal Sovereign Trading, the sole distributor for APP products in Singapore, said it had crossed out APP on the form before signing it.

Meanwhile, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said yesterday it had worked with the Association of Banks in Singapore on responsible financing by banks and would be issuing guidelines soon. Said its spokesman: "MAS is of the view that financial institutions have a role to play in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development."

It also said it supported plans by the Singapore Exchange to mandate sustainability reporting by listed companies regarding the environmental and social aspects of their businesses. Implementation is targeted for financial year 2017, following an ongoing public consultation exercise.

MAS added it would support the development of guidance for institutional investors on engaging investee companies on these issues, and said "lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and the media" all had roles to play.

Companies that signed the SEC declaration are required to inform the council if they start to do business with parties suspected of being responsible for the haze.

SEC executive director Edwin Seah said it would approach firms that did not sign the form. "We will investigate, then decide if we need to revoke their green labels."

He said the delay could be due to the firms making checks, as supply chains can be very intricate.

Consumers Association of Singapore president Lim Biow Chuan urged consumers to stop supporting companies that have not pledged to be socially responsible. "This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted," he said.

Hazy conditions here deteriorated yesterday owing to the prevailing winds blowing westward from Kalimantan in Borneo to Singapore, said the NEA in a 7pm update yesterday. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) then was 123-155, in the unhealthy range.

Today, the PSI is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, with a slight improvement expected due to changing wind directions.

Shipping executive Ricky Chan, 53, said he would not be boycotting the listed products. "The haze is a problem that is not easy to solve. Singapore is so small, the companies supply not just to us but the whole world," said the father of two. "Even if I stop buying such things, it won't change anything."

But consumer Chan Chin Hee, 50, finds the list useful.

Said the businessman: "Now I can choose the companies that are not involved. The haze is really too bad now, my throat is so sore. This is the only way I can express my anger." (k)(++++)

NTUC FairPrice on Monday said about 20 per cent of the paper products carried by the supermarket chain are sourced from Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) Group, through a licensed distributor in Singapore.

Five Indonesian companies, including APP, were named by the National Environment Agency as possible contributors to the haze pollution. The Singapore government has sent notices to these firms for possible transgressions of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

FairPrice said that it is monitoring the progress of investigation on APP. It has also approached the group to register its concern and seek clarification on their practices.

"As a responsible retailer, FairPrice takes a strong stance in this matter as we expect our partners to adopt values that are aligned with ours; this includes adopting and promoting sustainable practices," Seah Kian Peng, CEO of NTUC FairPrice, said in a statement.

"The haze affects all of us and we empathise with our customers for the inconvenience and disruption that it has caused. We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze."

10 firms declare their paper products are from sustainable sources
A list of firms manufacturing paper products such as toilet and printing paper will be regularly updated on the Singapore Environment Council and the Consumers Association of Singapore websites.Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Ten companies that manufacture paper products sold in Singapore have declared that they do not use products from five companies in Indonesia suspected of contributing to haze pollution.

The ten are certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) in a press release issued jointly on Monday (Oct 5).

The list of companies will be updated regularly on the SEC and CASE websites. The two agencies are awaiting declaration forms from seven other third-party manufacturers.

"Should any of the listed companies become involved in the purchasing or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products from those suspected to be responsible for the haze pollution, they are bound by the declaration to inform the SEC of their activities and will be promptly removed from the list," according to the press release.

"SEC encourages other paper companies who have not participated in the SGLS to contact SEC soonest for certification that their products are from sustainable sources."

In September, the National Environment Agency said it has sent Preventative Measure Notices to four Indonesian companies - PT Rimba Hutani Mas, PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries, PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa and PT Wachyuni Mandira - suspected of having haze-causing fires on their land.

NEA has also served notice to Asia Pulp and Paper Company (APP), an Indonesian company with an office in Singapore, seeking information on its subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in their concessions.

On Monday, CASE called on consumers to send a strong signal to "environmentally irresponsible" companies with their purchasing decisions.

"CASE would like to remind the public that the strongest voice is still the consumer. We hope that consumers will consider not supporting companies involved in the purchase or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products unless they have pledged to be socially responsible," it said in the press release.

"This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers’ goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally irresponsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year."

SINGAPORE — A group of 10 companies that manufacture paper products that are sold in Singapore have distanced themselves from five Indonesian firms accused by the local authorities of contributing to the latest bout of haze engulfing the region, as the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) urged consumers to ditch support for environmentally irresponsible businesses.

The manufacturers, which include Kimberly-Clark Products, Fuji Xerox Singapore and Canon Singapore, have signed declarations that they do not buy or use wood, paper or pulp materials from these errant players, said the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) and CASE, in a joint press release today (Oct 5). The list could grow in the coming weeks, as declaration forms from seven more third-party manufacturers are pending, they added.

The development comes after the National Environment Agency (NEA) said two Fridays ago it has served “preventive measure notices” on four Indonesian firms under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

The notice requires firms to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them, and discontinue any burning activities, among other things.

A fifth company was also asked to provide information, including measures it has taken to put out fires in their concessions.

At that time, the Government said it will also look into how it can support companies which are recognised by their industry or by international bodies to have instituted sustainable practices.

Today, CASE said it hopes consumers will consider not supporting companies that are not socially responsible.

“This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers’ goodwill should not be taken for granted,” it added.

The SEC and CASE said firms that have signed declarations that they do not use suppliers suspected of contributing to the haze problem are obligated to inform the SEC should they start doing so.

The paper products of all 10 companies that have made the declaration are certified under the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme administered by the SEC.

To be certified, the products must be sustainably sourced and/or have recycled content, while they must also contain minimal or no hazardous substances, said the SEC’s Head (Eco-Certifications)/Lead Environmental Engineer Kavickumar Muruganathan.

“They also need to submit information regarding their management in terms of waste generated during the manufacturing process, water, energy use, and also what happens after the end of the product’s life,” he added.

To ensure compliance, random site audits are conducted on products and companies, said Mr Kavickumar.

Four of the 10 companies who responded to TODAY’s queries said they had no qualms about pledging their commitment to environmentally responsible dealings.

Fuji Xerox Singapore said they work closely with the Forest Stewardship Council, an international NGO promoting responsible management of forests, to ensure their papers come from “responsibly managed forests”.

Sunlight Paper Products, which procures raw materials from China, said the NEA’s identification of the five Indonesian firms suspected to be “the main culprits for causing the annual haze to our people (means there is) less likelihood that our company will procure raw materials from them in future”.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Government has responded to Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s remarks that it would take three years to end forest fires in Indonesia.

In response to TODAY’s queries, the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources said: “The Indonesian Government has shown commitment in its efforts to put out the fires ... However, more could still be done in combatting the fires as well as law enforcement, as the end of the problem is not within sight yet.”

The ministry added: “Indonesia has also recognised that the problem is best prevented instead of being reacted to ... and the Indonesian Government has gone to some lengths to enforce their laws against illegal land and forest burning. To support this course of action by Indonesia, Singapore has enacted the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to enable it to also take legal action against offenders who cause transboundary haze in Singapore while respecting Indonesia’s sovereignty.”

In a media advisory last night, the NEA said the haze situation may improve slightly today. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, and may drop gradually to the low end of the unhealthy range if the haze conditions improve, said the NEA.

The air quality deteriorated throughout the day yesterday. At 10pm, the 24-hour PSI was 129 to 162. The three-hour PSI was 161, while the one-hour PM2.5 was 90 to 123.

Ten firms with paper products sold in Singapore have declared that they only obtain wood, paper or pulp materials from socially responsible companies, with more likely to make similar declarations, as the haze continues to linger.

The SEC and the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said in a joint statement on Monday that another seven third-party manufacturers are expected to submit declarations as well. The list will be regularly updated on both the SEC and Case websites.

This comes after five Indonesian companies were named by the National Environment Agency as possible contributors to the haze pollution. Among them were PT Rimba Hutani Mas; PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries; PT Bumi Sriwijaya Sentosa; PT Wachyuni Mandira and locally incorporated Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Company. The Singapore government has sent notices to these firms for possible transgressions of the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act.

"Should any of the listed companies become involved in the purchasing or sourcing of wood, paper and/or pulp products from those suspected to be responsible for the haze pollution, they are bound by the declaration to inform the SEC of their activities and will be promptly removed from the list," they said in the statement.

NTUC FairPrice said on Monday evening that it has since approached APP Group, to register its concern and seek clarification on their practices. About 20 per cent of the paper products FairPrice carries are sourced from APP through a licensed distributor in Singapore.

Seah Kian Peng, CEO of NTUC FairPrice, said in a media statement that FairPrice takes "a strong stance" in this matter, as it expect its partners to adopt values that are aligned with the supermarket chain.

"This includes adopting and promoting sustainable practices. The haze affects all of us and we empathise with our customers for the inconvenience and disruption that it has caused. We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze."

Case also urged consumers to consider supporting only socially responsible firms involved in the purchase or sourcing of wood, paper and pulp products.

"This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally irresponsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year," it said.

The local firm, which imports paper to distribute here, also halted supplies from two Indonesian firms it gets its paper from.

"We will sell the remaining stock and then stop taking from these companies," said its business development manager Ben Chua, 41. "The companies are still under investigation but judging from public sentiments, we want to signal to APP that we do not accept such actions."

He added: "We also want to signal to consumers that we are serious about the environment."

Products from APP and Indonesia make up 10 per cent of Mukim's stock. Most of its paper products are from Europe.

According to the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), the firm is one of seven which did not sign a SEC declaration stating their paper products here are free of raw materials from five other companies under investigation for their involvement in the haze.

Mr Chua said Mukim will sign it when all its APP stock has been sold - in about a month or two.

In a joint statement with the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) yesterday, SEC listed 10 companies that had signed the declaration, out of the 17 they had contacted with paper products certified under the green label scheme administered by the council.

Late last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) began legal action against five companies - Singapore-listed firm APP and four Indonesian firms - it believes are possible culprits behind the burning of forests in Indonesia that caused the haze.

Another company that did not sign the SEC declaration is NTUC FairPrice Co-operative. About 20 per cent of paper products the supermarket chain carries are sourced from APP through a distributor here.

"We assure that prompt and firm actions will be taken on any of our suppliers if they are found to be responsible for any unethical practices that contributes to the haze," said NTUC FairPrice's chief executive Seah Kian Peng, who added that the firm has approached APP to seek clarification on its practices.

Meanwhile, the chain will continue to carry APP's products.

Malaysian firm Malaysian Newsprint Industries, which also did not sign the form, said it was getting it vetted by the firm's legal team. Its technical support supervisor, Tan Kin Chyuan, said that the firm does not work with the firms being probed.

Tissue paper supplier Tipex declined comment. The remaining three firms could not be contacted.

Those that signed the form are required to tell SEC if they begin to do business with parties suspected to be responsible for the haze.

SEC's executive director, Edwin Seah, said the council will be approaching firms to ask why the form was not signed. "We will investigate, then decide if we need to revoke their green labels."

He added that the delay could be due to the firms making checks. "Supply chains can be very intricate. Firms can have many suppliers who farm out their processes to even smaller firms."

Case's president Lim Biow Chuan urged consumers to stop supporting companies who have not pledged to be socially responsible. "This will send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted," he said.

Shipping executive Ricky Chan, 53, who works in shipping, said that he will not be boycotting paper products not on SEC's list.

"The haze is a problem that is not easy to solve. Singapore is so small, the companies supply not just to us but also the whole world," said the father of two. "Even if I stop buying such things, it won't change anything."

But consumer Chan Chin Hee, 50, finds the list useful.

Said the businessman: "Now I can choose the companies that are not involved. The haze is really bad now; my throat is so sore. This is the only way I can express my anger."

The Monetary Authority of Singapore statement comes as paper and palm oil product manufacturers come under scrutiny for links to firms that have transboundary haze-causing fires on their land in Indonesia.Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Financial institutions have a role to play in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Monday (Oct 5).

Its statement comes as paper and palm oil product manufacturers come under scrutiny for transboundary haze-causing fires on suppliers' land on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

A spokesperson said "progress is being made on a few fronts" and that MAS has already been in discussion with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) on how local banks can help promote lending practices that support sustainable development.
"We are pleased that ABS will soon be issuing guidelines on responsible financing," MAS added.

The authority also said that the Singapore Exchange has been working with listed companies to "enhance disclosure" on the environmental and social aspects of their businesses, and that it supports SGX's plans to mandate sustainability reporting on a "comply or explain" basis. This will be implemented potentially in Financial Year 2017, after an ongoing public consultation exercise is completed.

Said MAS: "Lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs and the media all have roles to play in this area. MAS will support the development of guidance for investors, specifically institutional investors, in engaging with their investee companies, on issues relating to sustainability, social and environmental considerations.“

SINGAPORE — The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) will be releasing guidelines on responsible financing later this week, as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday (Oct 5) noted progress is being made on “a few fronts” among financial institutions to support the promotion of sustainable development.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, ABS said work on the guidelines started earlier this year. Details will be issued later on Thursday. Together with several banks, the association formed a task force to develop a set of industry guidelines that will “provide a framework for banks in Singapore to advance responsible financing through a more structured and transparent approach”, an ABS spokesman said.

An MAS spokesperson reiterated that financial institutions have to play their part in supporting efforts to promote sustainable development. “MAS has been in discussion with ABS on how our banks can help to promote lending practices that support sustainable development. We are pleased that ABS will soon be issuing guidelines on responsible financing,” she said.

Separately, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) had earlier told TODAY that it has reached out to several Singapore financial institutions to raise awareness on sustainable financing and investing. Global banks such as Standard Chartered and Citibank are leading the way in this regard.

Nevertheless, one of the local banks, the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), has taken the “first step” by starting to incorporate environmental risk factors in its corporate credit policies, said Ms Cheong Poh Kwan, SIIA’s assistant director for sustainability.

The MAS said the Singapore Exchange (SGX) has also been working with listed companies to enhance disclosure on the environmental and social aspects of their businesses. In 2011, it launched a Sustainability Reporting Guide for listed companies. From financial year 2017, the SGX plans to mandate sustainability reporting on a “comply or explain” basis.

“Lenders, investors, consumers, NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and the media all have roles to play in this area,” said the MAS spokesperson. “MAS will support the development of guidance for investors, specifically institutional investors, in engaging with their investee companies, on issues relating to sustainability, social and environmental considerations.”

By next year, the Singapore Environment Council aims to make it mandatory for the 3,000 certified products to carry the label.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: At least 3,000 products that have attained the Singapore Green Label will need to display it by the beginning of next year, based on the target set by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC).

The certification scheme was administered by the Council to make it easier for consumers looking to buy eco-friendly products.

This was revealed when the council shared to Channel NewsAsia, together with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), the names of the 10 companies that assured consumers its paper products are from sustainably sourced raw materials.
Singapore is taking action against five Indonesian companies believed to have had fires on their lands, leading to the haze. The National Environment Agency has also served a notice to Asia Pulp and Paper an Indonesian firm with a Singapore office, whose products include Paseo toilet rolls and tissue paper.

Some companies though, are distancing themselves from those implicated. On Monday (Oct 5), 10 companies declared their raw materials are sustainably sourced. SEC and CASE said they are awaiting declaration from another seven companies. All have been certified under the SEC's Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS).

Said CASE executive director Seah Seng Choon: “We would like to call upon consumers and urge them to seriously look out for the green label. The money they spend on irresponsible companies will help those companies to continue to perpetuate bad habits, so if consumers are able to send a strong signal to the company that we will not accept such activities and we want them to be responsible, I think the companies will respond."

Currently, it is up to manufacturers to display the Green Label. The council said a "sizeable number" do not do so yet, as some cited costs as a reason. None of the 10 companies display the logo on their products either.

By next year, it aims to make it mandatory for certified products to carry the label. SEC executive director Edwin Seah said: “We will want to get these companies to put our logo on their products because I think it will benefit them as we go out and educate consumers to look for these products. I think it's useful from the company's point of view to have their green label logo on their products, so it's easier for consumers to look out for them and buy them."

The council is working with companies to understand their constraints. It is also working with organisations like the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, to roll out the scheme. SEC added it is encouraging retailers such as supermarkets to carry only sustainably-sourced products, or have a green lane for consumers to find eco-friendly products easily.

The National Environment Agency said yesterday at 6pm that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the high end of the moderate range (51 to 100) and the low end of the unhealthy range (101 to 200).

It may enter the mid-section of the unhealthy range if denser haze is blown in.

But even amid the hazy weather and grey skies that have plagued Singapore over the past few weeks, there have been bright spots to chase the gloom away.

Examples of Singaporeans looking out for each other and performing acts of kindness can be found on social media, while different initiatives have emerged to help combat the haze.
ACTS OF KINDNESS

For instance, Facebook user Josiah Ng was touched to receive a message from his driver after booking a cab on Sept 24, which read: "Hello Mr Ng, I am your taxi booking. The haze is very bad. You stay indoor (sic) first. I will SMS you again when I am here, so you don't need to wait in the haze. Will not start meter first."

Mr Ng said that the driver had been sending the same message to his other customers.

While there were reports of people cashing in by reselling N95 masks at a higher price during the last haze crisis in 2013, one hardware shop is doing the opposite.

Home - located on the ground floor of Block 442, Clementi Avenue 3 - was spotted bearing a sign in English and Chinese that read: "Free mask for children and senior citizens."

INITIATIVES TO HELP PEOPLE COPE WITH HAZE

The people behind local kindness movement Stand Up For Singapore last month kickstarted a fund-raising campaign called I Will Be Your Shelter to buy air purifiers and filters for the elderly and needy in the North Bridge Road area.

So far, it has raised about $6,000 through crowdfunding site Indiegogo and donations. It distributed 40 air filters and 10 purifiers to the residents on Sept 19.

For Cai Yinzhou, the health of Singapore's homeless and migrant workers was foremost on his mind when he embarked on his 3,000 Masks, 1 Singapore project to help his target demographic.

Meanwhile, sisters Cheryl and Charlene Lie launched their mask-collection drive, Let's Help Kalimantan, which aims to help Indonesians cope with severe haze conditions that have reportedly hit PSI levels of nearly 2,000. In Indonesia, a PSI reading above 350 is considered hazardous.

EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS

Several volunteer groups have also sprung up, such as the Haze Elimination Action Team (Heat) and People's Movement To Stop Haze, which aim to raise public awareness of the companies that are responsible for causing the forest fires.

Besides publishing tips on Facebook to help Singaporeans guard against hazy conditions, Heat intends to sue the companies.

The People's Movement To Stop Haze has been particularly vocal on advocating the use of products made from sustainable sources. Its campaign, We Breathe What We Buy, is trying to collect 50,000 pledges from Singaporeans to show that there is a demand for sustainable products.

Number of people diagnosed with eczema up, even before haze
KK Women's and Children's Hospital has seen, on average, eight to 10 new cases a day, up from five to eight last year. Even adults are not spared.
Vimita Mohandas, News 5 Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Kayla Lim is among the 20 per cent of children of school-going age who suffer from eczema. In mild cases, the skin is scaly, red and itchy, while in severe cases, the skin can blister or even bleed.

The five-year-old’s skin flared up about four weeks ago and her parents said the several doctors she has gone to seen have blamed it on the haze in Singapore.

Sufferers of eczema may be unable to resist the urge to scratch, which may result in bleeding, leaving the skin open to infection. However, some doctors have said it will be difficult to prove any condition is 100 per cent due to haze.

According to some hospitals, even before the onset of the haze, an increased number of people have been diagnosed with eczema. KK Women's and Children's Hospital has seen, on average, eight to 10 new cases a day, up from five to eight last year. Even adults are not spared.

Mr Kern Tan Seet, who has been battling eczema for the past 18 years, said his flare-ups are due to various factors such as stress, diet and lifestyle. He shared some tips on how he manages his condition, especially during the haze period.

"To avoid the condition (from worsening), I always stay in the cool area, turn on the fan or air-con,” he said. “And it cannot be too cold.”

“I also apply lotion and cream on the whole body instead of just the affected areas,” he added. “I changed my diet by avoiding seafood, except fish, and I take more vegetables, less eggs and not too much bean products."

One family doctor said that over the past few weeks, he has been seeing an increase in the number of children visiting his clinic for skin-related conditions. However, he said it could be due to various factors.

Said Dr Philip Koh, a general practitioner at the Healthway Tampines Clinic: "Air pollution with pollutants entering eczematous skin can also affect (it). It may not be the primary factor all the time. Different people have different triggers and for you it could be food, for me it could be air pollution.

“For those who are perhaps affected by the pollutants in the air, for these people, yes, the flare-up could be due to that, but we can never be certain that it is totally due to that as a primary causative factor."

Dr Koh stressed that it is important for eczema sufferers to moisturise the skin regularly. For those with eczema who spend long periods of time in air-conditioned places, he warned that doing so could have an adverse effect, as their skin could become dry and this could worsen the condition.

Charity walks and sporting events were among activities to beat the haze yesterday as south-easterly winds eased the smoky conditions across Singapore.

Clearer skies were evident over many areas as the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading dropped from a range of 144 to 178 at 1am to between 78 and 92 in the moderate range as of 8pm yesterday.

Today, the air quality is expected to be in the high end of the moderate range (51-100) and low end of the unhealthy range (101-200).

"It may enter the mid-section of the unhealthy range if denser haze is blown in," said a National Environment Agency spokesman.

The air quality has been improving because south-easterly winds have kept denser haze from Sumatra away. However, widespread haze still persists in parts of central and southern Sumatra, while some haze from Kalimantan has also spread to the sea areas south-east of Singapore.

The haze on Saturday made organisers cancel part of the Singapore leg of the Fina Swimming World Cup held at the Sports Hub's OCBC Aquatic Centre, an open-air facility.

But other events, such as the one organised by animal welfare group Save Our Street Dogs, went ahead as planned. It held its fundraising walk and run at East Coast Park on Saturday night, although only 500 of the expected 1,200 participants turned up.

"Even though the skies were clear, the PSI read 240, prompting many to call for a cancellation, and it was stressful having to make the final decision," said its president Siew Tuck Wah.

Around 1,000 Bedok residents went for a 2.5km walk as part of a health awareness carnival yesterday morning. Participant Jessica Sim, 33, said: "There were seniors and young families walking, but I didn't see anyone wearing masks as it didn't look like there was much haze."

However, the Health Promotion Board decided not to take any chances. It cancelled its healthy lifestyle festival at Toa Payoh HDB Hub yesterday morning based on the previous evening's forecast. "This is in consideration of the wide spectrum of the public who may attend the outdoor roadshow, including seniors and children, as well as the expected attendance of over 4,000 people at the roadshow," said its spokesman.

A total of 41 hot spots were detected in Sumatra yesterday. The low count was due to cloud cover over parts of the island.

SINGAPORE - THE prolonged haze continues to disrupt businesses and events in Singapore as visitorship to attractions declines and events are cancelled, leaving firms still counting the costs.

Over the weekend, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) remained largely in the unhealthy range of 101-200, while the three-hour PSI crossed the "200" threshold on Saturday afternoon. This prompted organisers to cancel the Saturday evening finals of the Fina Swimming World Cup in Singapore.

According to Kevin Cheong, chairman of the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), early estimates suggest a 5-10 per cent drop in visitorship across the board at its members' attractions. One outdoor attraction has seen numbers plunge by up to 40 per cent.

"If the haze continues, we're expecting cancellations or diversion of traffic from overseas," said Mr Cheong.

The hardest hit are outdoor attractions as some tour groups tweak their itineraries to opt for indoor attractions instead, such as the local museums or Madame Tussauds.

While October isn't a peak period for inbound tourism, business costs will mount if the haze stretches to end-October, Mr Cheong added. He expects a rise in medical costs as staff - especially those stationed outdoors - have been falling ill more frequently.

Most of ASA's members have set up a designated room for customers and staff to rest, while employees are being given more frequent water breaks and rest breaks.

CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun reckons the extent of the damage on the tourism industry hinges on how protracted the haze is.

"The longer this carries on, the larger the impact will be," he said. "The challenge for the sector, even without the (haze), is that arrivals from the region were already down."

Tourist arrivals dipped nearly 2 per cent year on year to 8.78 million in the first seven months, based on preliminary data from the Singapore Tourism Board, thanks to the strong Singapore dollar and a slowdown in China's economy. Source markets which registered a decline in tourist volumes include Indonesia (-11 per cent), Russia (-32 per cent) and Malaysia (-4 per cent).

Mr Song estimates potential a revenue loss of between S$400 and S$500 a day from every tourist that decides to eschew the country for cleaner pastures.

Over at Sentosa, visitorship has fallen 20 per cent since the haze started acting up.

According to divisional director (island operations) of Sentosa Leisure Management, Koh Piak Huat, the island may suspend its outdoor attractions if the PSI level crosses the 300 threshold or if visitor experience is adversely impacted.

"If the PSI rises to levels where visibility becomes a safety consideration for our cable car operations, we will also suspend the cable car rides until the situation improves," Mr Koh added.

At the Singapore Flyer, sales have dropped slightly year on year in September due to the haze, with walk-in ticket sales being the most affected. The attraction is allowing passengers to re-schedule their rides since the haze tends to be unpredictable, a spokesman said.

Restaurants and bars are also feeling the heat as the haze stubbornly lingers over the city-state.

Howard Lo, owner of Tanuki Raw at Orchard Road, estimates that it costs the outlet up to S$3,000 in lost revenue when it has to shut down its al fresco area on hazy days.

"We're still running at full house (but) we can't use half the restaurant," he said, adding that the number of patrons drops by about 35 per cent on such days.

The group owns food and beverage establishments such as Standing Sushi Bar and The Secret Mermaid.

The haze is also causing a slight decline in business at another of his restaurants in Queen Street, despite the indoor location. "People don't want to stray too far from the office," Mr Lo said.

Hinoki Japanese Dining at Shenton Way, which is facing a similar problem, has got creative to tackle the issue. The restaurant has started offering deliveries, taking orders directly to customers as the poor air quality deters customers from coming to them.

A number of events have been cancelled or disrupted in recent days due to the haze too, including Pedestrian Night - where a stretch of Orchard Road is closed to traffic the first Saturday of every month - and open-air picnic Diner en Blanc. The 2018 World Cup qualifying football match between Singapore and Afghanistan this Thursday reportedly may be called off as well if the haze worsens.

SINGAPORE - Many of us have felt the effect of the prolonged haze situation at present. But some are also becoming increasingly aware of the impact unhealthy air conditions have on animals and pets.

Pets generally respond to the haze in similar ways to humans, veterinarian Dr Rachel Tong told AsiaOne. Common symptoms include respiratory problems, coughing and sneezing, as well as eye inflammation and conjunctivitis.

But she was quick to point out that like humans, the majority of pets that are in healthy condition would not be severely affected by the haze. Rather, it is those that have pre-existing heart or respiratory conditions that may be at greater risk.

In a post on their Facebook page, Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre also warned that young animals (below one year old), geriatric animals (over six years old) or creatures with kidney, liver or eye conditions may be in greater danger.

Dr Tong, who is with Spring Veterinary Care, also said that smaller household pets, including rabbits and pocket pets like hamsters and guinea pigs, may be slightly more susceptible to suffering from haze-related illnesses. These animals are more delicate due to a smaller lung capacity, putting them at greater risk of smoke inhalation.

When it comes to protecting pets from the haze, there are specific tips and suggestions for different types of pets.

Here are some ways to care for your pet during the haze:

Rabbits and pocket pets

For rabbits and pocket pets, Dr Tong advises owners to ensure that they have access to ample amounts of hay or food pellets. Make sure that its food and water are kept clean and changed regularly to ensure that they are dust free.

Rabbit welfare group House Rabbits Society Singapore also put up an advisory on their Facebook page last month. The group advises rabbit owners to keep their pets indoors in well-ventilated spaces.

Another tip is to offer small pieces of fresh and juicy fruit like blueberries, apples or watermelons, which are rich in antioxidants that could give their immune systems a boost.

Dogs and cats

As for people with dogs and cats, a number of animal welfare groups advised that they be kept indoors during this period and to keep walks in the unhealthy air outside to a minimum.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also advised that walks should be avoided altogether if the Pollutant Standards Index crosses into the "Very Unhealthy" range.

SPCA suggested that for dogs, owners should play with them indoors using games that stimulate their minds, such as hide-and-seek, so that they would be able to work off their energy without being exposed to the haze.

Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Care also cautioned that extra attention should be paid to flat-faced dogs and cats, such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats, which would be more susceptible to the effects of haze.

Nevertheless, even if dogs and cats do go outside, Dr Tong stressed it was important to make sure that the animals were kept clean.

"Perhaps owners can wipe their dogs or cats with wet wipes or damp cloths after they come back inside, so that the dirty dust particles do not remain on their fur," said Dr Tong.

She also advised pet owners to consider installing air purifiers and use it when their pets are kept indoors, saying that a number of pet owners had already taken this step.

SPCA also advised against pet owners putting makeshift masks on their pets to protect them.

"It would be dangerous for the pets with the masks obscuring their mouths, not allowing them to dispel heat which might, in turn, lead to heatstroke," SPCA said.

Fish and terrapins

Not immediately known to many is that the haze can also affect aquatic pets such as fish and terrapins, even if they are kept indoors.

"It is not immediately obvious, but all that dust in the air will affect the water quality and could also change the acidity of the water, making it unhealthy for the animals," Dr Tong revealed.

She added that fish owners should take precautions by washing the filters and changing the water in their fish tanks or ponds more frequently.

Prevention is better than cure

Dr Tong shared that since the haze began about a month ago, her clinic has seen a definite increase in the number of pets brought in with haze-related issues, but most owners have brought in their animals for checks and to get additional medication even if they are not ill.

According to Dr Tong, many owners are increasingly taking preventive measures by taking them to the clinic to be checked or to ask for additional supplements.

"Keeping pets healthy now will certainly be better in the long-term, as owners will not have to worry about accumulating medical bills to treat them should they get sick. Prevention is always better than cure," said Dr Tong.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/ways-keep-your-pets-safe-haze#sthash.c3zuHXbq.dpuf

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5), as part of its efforts to conserve native mangrove species.

The arboretum - a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes - spans five hectares and is expected to have about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

Said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at NParks: “We want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there is one focal point for people who want to study mangroves. For example, when researchers, scientists, students and visitors come and visit Sungei Buloh, they will be able to see all these types of mangroves in one location. So, it is a good opportunity for conservation, outdoor education and outreach as well."
The initiative boosts the conservation of rare mangrove species, such as the Eye of the Crocodile, which is listed as globally endangered, with only about 200 mature trees in the world.

Mr Wong added: "By bringing back this rare endangered species, we are actually increasing the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat as well. With all these mangrove species, we are bringing a lot of diversity, not only in plant diversity, but also animal diversity.

“A lot of these intertidal animals, marine animals, depend on these mangrove species for survival. So by bringing back all these mangrove species, we hope that in time to come, there will be an increase in this intertidal fauna diversity as well."

The arboretum was opened by new Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who also planted a locally endangered mangrove tree.

In his speech, Mr Khaw said that he hopes the arboretum can be "a focal point" for Singaporeans who "may not fully relate or appreciate" the importance of mangrove swamps and how they "impact our quality of life". He added that mangroves bring many benefits, including preventing coastal erosion.

Mr Khaw also said more than 200 years ago, mangroves occupied about 13 per cent of the island. However, the number has shrunk to about 0.5 per cent.

Said Mr Khaw: “At the end of the day, physical infrastructure is not easy, but is the easier part because with an enlightened Government and some money, top-down we can do a lot of things with this hardware.

“But it is the social infrastructure which has to be ground-up, where Singaporeans, the people themselves, who believe in it, believe in the cause and be part of that and they on their own will be (asking) the Government, why don't you do this, why don't you do that faster."

Starting Monday, about 2,000 mangrove trees will be planted along a 500-metre stretch at Sungei Buloh over two years. Students, volunteers and community partners will be invited to plant and monitor the seedlings, collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

As this NParks initiative is also about raising the awareness of the public with regard to mangroves and conservation, it has plans to install educational signs, as well as roll out outreach programmes in the near future. A three-hour hands-on education programme - for children aged between four and six - is expected to take place by the middle of next year.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan-based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, also announced a S$500,000 sponsorship for the new mangrove arboretum.

SINGAPORE - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail's new arboretum is expected to plant 2,000 native mangrove trees along a 500-metre stretch over the next two years, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a press release on Monday (Oct 5).

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An arboretum is a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. The designated area is expected to house about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

One such species NParks highlighted is the Eye of the Crocodile, a globally and critically endangered species with only around 200 mature trees in the world.

Manufacturing company Kikkoman Singapore has announced a $500,000 sponsorship for the new conservation area.

New Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan who launched the arboretum on Monday, said: "Mangrove conservation is key to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and in this regard, we place great importance on the establishment of the mangrove arboretum. Sungei Buloh is also home to the largest tract of mangrove forest on mainland Singapore.

"The arboretum will serve as a focal venue for conservation, education and outreach activities. It is an important project that will contribute to the conservation of mangrove plant species through propagating and planting of native mangrove species," he added.

In line with its aim of reaching out to the community, students, volunteers and other community partners will be invited to participate in the nurturing, planting and monitoring of these seedlings collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

NParks will also introduce a series of new interpretive signs and outreach programmes at the aboretum.

SINGAPORE – A new mangrove arboretum that will be home to half the world’s 70 “true” mangrove species — those that grow only in the mangrove environment — has been launched at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve by the National Parks Board (NParks), with a donation of S$500,000 from Kikkoman Singapore to mark its 30th anniversary.

The arboretum — or collection of trees — will have 2,000 mangrove trees from 35 native species planted progressively along a 500m stretch at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail, which is currently open to the public as part of the reserve’s latest extension along Kranji Way. NParks will install signs with information on various mangrove species at the arboretum. Among the species to be featured include the globally critically-endangered Eye of the Crocodile trees, which got its name from breathing pores on its trunk that resemble crocodile eyes.

Mangroves provide habitats for animals and prevent coastal erosion. NParks’ director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said at the launch today (Oct 5) the initiative came about after a study found that Sungei Buloh housed 30 out of 35 native mangrove species in Singapore. “So with this new initiative now, we want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there’s one focal point for people who want to study mangroves,” he said, adding that the initiative would also replenish and increase the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan helped to plant one of the first 200 trees, together with Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Kikkoman Corporation. Kikkoman staff, student volunteers and other community partners will continue the planting process over the next two years, starting this month. Kikkoman Singapore will also sponsor a three-hour education programme for children between four and six years old starting in June next year.

Schools are one of the community partners regularly called on, among them River Valley High School student Micaiah Chua, 16. He and his schoolmates will be transplanting 30 mangrove saplings of six different species, which they collected from Changi Beach in April and were growing in school for the past few months as part of a conservation project.

“I (was not) very familiar with mangroves, (but) from my project and from coming here today, I’ve actually learnt much more; for example, identifying the species of mangroves (and) why conservation is so important,” said Micaiah.

An area will be set aside at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for a living gallery of mangrove trees, comprising about half of the true species in the world, in a move to conserve these plants.

The 5ha area at the reserve's coastal trail will include a nursery and have, in two years' time, 2,000 native trees across 35 true species - those that grow only in mangroves or intertidal conditions.

The collection of trees, or arboretum, is an initiative to conserve Singapore's dwindling mangrove species. They now cover about 0.5 per cent of Singapore's land area, compared with 13 per cent in 1950.

Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board (NParks), said that just like any other plant, young mangrove saplings are susceptible to being eaten up by animals in the intertidal area or swept away due to water currents.

"What we want to do is to nurse them in the arboretum, in the nursery... until they are of suitable size (and) they are big enough to withstand all these physical conditions," said Mr Wong. "Once they are about 1m, or big enough, we will plant them into the intertidal area or into the mudflat in such a way they can withstand the conditions, or elements of the sea."

The mangrove species which will be planted include the globally critically endangered Eye of the Crocodile, or Bruguiera hainesii. Singapore has 11 of these in places such as Pulau Ubin, and none in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; there are only about 200 trees of this species globally.

According to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website, mangroves can store three to five times as much carbon dioxide as tropical trees, easing the effects of climate change. NParks also noted that their roots offer hiding places for young fishes and shrimps, and their branches offer shelter and nestling areas for birds such as herons.

Mangrove planting at the new arboretum is well under way, as 80 students planted some 200 mangrove saplings yesterday.

Institute of Technical Education College East student Tan Yong Qing, 22, together with his schoolmates, planted about 30 saplings. "This is the first time we are doing this... It makes you feel good because you're helping nature," he said.

During the launch of the arboretum yesterday at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan planted a locally endangered mangrove tree called the Dugun with Mr Haruhisa Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of Japan soya sauce maker Kikkoman. Kikkoman Singapore created a $500,000 sponsorship for the mangrove arboretum to mark its 30th anniversary.

SINGAPORE - Seems like even barn owls are taking refuge from the haze.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong snapped a photo of the bird at the Istana at around 12.48pm. The post has since gotten 25,183 likes on Facebook.

PM Lee wrote: "The owl came to visit us again today. Maybe he is taking shelter from the haze."

MP and parliamentary secretary Baey Yam Keng also posted a close-up shot of the barn owl on his social media pages on Monday, writing: "Happy to meet the famous Istana barn owl today". Mr Baey was at the Istana in the afternoon for the swearing-in ceremony for the four newly-appointed parliamentary secretaries.

Two years ago on Nov 20, a similar barn owl had flown into the building overnight. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Jurong Bird Park were enlisted to help release it back into the wild.

PM Lee said in his posting then: "The Istana grounds are a green refuge for many species of birds and animals. We should preserve and create many such green spaces all over our island, so that in our urban environment we can enjoy the natural flora and fauna of Singapore."

The Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki) says the government should provide support and pay close attention to the national palm oil industry to ensure that it continues to grow in the midst of the country’s economic slowdown.

“There should be supports from the government so that this industry can survive and dominate the international market,” said Gapki chairman Joko Supriyono as quoted by Antara news agency in Jakarta on Monday.

He said the ongoing fluctuations of the rupiah exchange rate had hurt palm oil companies in Indonesia, especially those with huge US-dollar debts.
“In the current slowing economic condition, many business players are tightening their belts, thus, we need support from the government,” he added.

He said the government needed to thoroughly check their sources before naming palm oil companies and their officials suspects in land and forest fire cases.

“Land and forest fires have brought losses upon all parties. This is a fact we have to be aware of. The incidents are triggered by a range of factors such as existing regulations that allow land clearing using risky slash and burn practices, problems in the management of state forests and the current long dry spell,” said Tungkot.

Among the relevant regulations are Law No.32/2009 on environmental protection and management, which allows local people possessing 2-hectare or smaller plots of land to open their land using the slash and burn method, he added. (ebf)

PETALING JAYA: Haze levels continued to drop after a torrid weekend that saw seven areas facing very unhealthy levels.

As of 5pm yesterday, 18 areas recorded an unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API), compared to 28 at 11pm the previous day.

An API reading from 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 301 and above, hazardous.

Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said this was due to the tropical storm Mujigae, which was expected to make landfall in China yesterday.

“Once it hits China, the wind will revert to typical inter-monsoon winds that are light and variable and we don’t expect to have any transboundary haze,” she said.

“As you can see, it is already improving slightly. And there should be clear weather after Oct 10.”

However, the falling trend remains subject to no new tropical storms forming in the region.
Che Gayah said the region would usually see three to four tropical storms in October and only two had occurred so far.

“Mujigae is one while the other, Choi-wan, developed somewhere over the east of the Philippines but is moving towards Japan ... so it is too far away to have much impact on the wind here.”

She added that lately it had been very difficult to carry out cloud seeding because for safe operating procedure, a minimum of 1.6km of runway visibility was required.

“We are always on standby to carry out cloud seeding but this month we have only managed to cloud seed once – on Oct 2.”

Che Gayah also noted that the Fire Hazard Map in Indonesia was still in red.

“This means it is dry there, easy to catch fire and that fires would be very hard to put out.”

Haze maps on the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre website shows that winds from Kalimantan and Sumatra are blown west and beyond Peninsular Malaysia.

On a related note, Dr Wan Junaidi said he had yet to fix a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart to further discuss a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries on transboundary haze.

“The MoU will outline six strategies, including prevention and suppression of forest fires, zero-burning process for jungle clearing and peatland management,” he said.

PETALING JAYA: All public and private universities and higher learning institutes will monitor haze levels in their area and decide whether to postpone academic and non-academic activities or close the institutions.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry was aware of the haze situation and its possible effects on the health and well-being of students and staff.

“The ministry is also monitoring the situation through various mechanisms, including the Air Pollutant Index from time to time,” he said in a statement.

Idris said the higher learning institutes are also required to prepare internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for the reference of their staff and students.

“The health and wellbeing of all students and staff is of the utmost priority,” he said.

About 7,000 schools in 11 states in the peninsula were closed yesterday and today.

KUALA PERLIS: The worsening haze has affected the livelihood of almost 1,500 fishermen in Perlis, said state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Mat Hassan.

He said on Monday that about 800 fishermen from Kuala Perlis and nearly 700 from Kuala Sungai Baru and Kuala Sanglang had to find alternative income if the haze did not improve.

"They cannot go out to sea due to a visibility of less than 500 metres and as a result the prices of fish have gone up as catches have declined by half," Mat, who is also Kuala Perlis state assemblyman said.

However he said these fishermen could still survive as the Government had given them subsistence allowance of RM300 per month for their daily needs, he said. - Bernama

He also encouraged fishermen, especially coastal fishermen to use fiberglass boats that provide compass or navigation tools when going out to fish.

"We understand fishermen will go out to sea because it is their source of income but watch the weather and visibility conditions prior to going out. If possible, use a compass if visibility is limited so as not to get lost in the middle of the sea and to avoid any untoward incidents," Mohamad said.

Meanwhile, a check by Bernama around the city here found that there were still some schools continuing with activities outside the classroom despite the air pollutant index reading being at an unhealthy level exceeding 100.

The illegal burning of forests and agricultural land across Indonesia has blanketed much of south-east Asia in an acrid haze, leading to one of the most severe regional shutdowns in years.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Indonesia needs to convict plantation companies for the noxious smoke, created by the annual destruction of plants during the dry season. Burning the land is a quick way to ready the soil for new seed.

“We want Indonesia to take action,” he was quoted as saying by the state news agency Bernama, adding the smog was affecting the economy. “Indonesia alone can gather evidence and convict the companies concerned.”

In Singapore, races for the swimming world cup – the FINA World Championship – were cancelled on Saturday. A marathon in Malaysia on Sunday was also abandoned and all schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people in Indonesia and Malaysia have sought medical treatment for respiratory problems. The annual burning is decades old and Indonesia has faced mounting pressure to end the practice.

Scientists say the pollution could surpass 1997 levels when the haze created an environmental disaster that cost an estimated US$9 billion in damage.
“If the forecasts for a longer dry season hold, this suggests 2015 will rank among the most severe events on record,” said Robert Field, a Columbia University scientist based at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

In Singapore, news websites post near-hourly updates on the danger of being outside. Some shops were providing free masks for children and elderly people.

“Healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion ... Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention,” it said.

Following a public outcry, ten Singaporean companies that manufacture paper products announced on Monday they do not source wood from five firms in Indonesia suspected of contributing to the haze.

Greenpeace says the fires, mostly from peatland, kill roughly 110,000 people a year in the region through associated conditions.

Indonesia has deployed 20,000 security forces police to water bomb the fields and use chemicals to artificially induce rainfall. It also says it has investigated companies and ordered four to suspend operations.

The country is the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, according to the World Resources Institute thinktank. Jakarta promised last week at the United Nations to curb emissions by 2030.

Singapore had offered to send C-130 aircraft to Indonesia to conduct cloud seeding operations and Chinook helicopters to douse the forest fires but Jakarta refused the offer, Indonesian state news agency Antara said.

“We will first strive to overcome [the fires] by ourselves. So far, there has not been any agreement with Singapore [about dealing with these fires],” cabinet secretary Pramono Anung was quoted as saying.

Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi has said Jakarta’s efforts were not enough and it should seek more regional help. The Malaysian minister of defence said on Twitter he had fallen ill due to the haze and warned Malaysians to stay indoors.

Malaysia's premier has urged Indonesia to act against those to blame for raging fires that have blanketed Southeast Asia in smog for weeks, as Malaysian schools closed again Monday over health concerns.

The regional environmental crisis has caused flights and major events to be cancelled, and forced tens of thousands of people in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to seek treatment for respiratory problems.

"They (plantation companies) are operating there, we want Indonesia to take action," Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama late on Sunday.

The blazes flare annually during the dry season as fires are illegally set to clear land for cultivation on Indonesia's island of Sumatra and in the Indonesian portion of Borneo island.

Singapore consumer and environmental groups called Monday for a commercial boycott of "irresponsible" companies contributing to regional air pollution through the fires.

The non-government Singapore Environment Council and the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) issued an approved list of 10 paper-making companies.

The 10 have declared that they do not buy or use any materials from Indonesian producers which are facing legal action by Singapore.

Five firms operating on Sumatra, including global giant Asia Pulp and Paper, have received legal notices from Singapore which could result in huge fines.

They were the first companies openly named by Singapore as potential culprits under a newly activated law allowing the island republic to sue overseas firms found to have contributed to serious haze outbreaks.

Air quality was again in the officially "unhealthy" range in Singapore on Monday after a brief respite over the weekend.

CASE urged Singaporeans to "send a strong signal to the errant companies that consumers' goodwill should not be taken for granted and consumers will not support companies which are environmentally responsible and/or have contributed to the environmental disaster year after year".

Experts have warned that this year's flare-up is on track to equal or surpass an infamous 1997 haze outbreak that sent pollution soaring to record highs and caused an estimated $9 billion in economic damage across the region.

Indonesia has sent more than 20,000 troops, police and other personnel to fight fires in an effort that has included waterbombing and chemically induced rainfall.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's office said he was "very serious in tackling the forest fires" but dry weather caused by the El Nino climate phenomenon posed a challenge.

Presidential spokesman Ari Dwipayana told AFP that companies found to be responsible for lighting fires could have their business permits revoked, but added: "All this takes time."

Malaysian authorities ordered school closures last month due to bad air quality, and over the weekend announced schools across much of the country would close again on Monday and Tuesday.

Bernama said Najib, speaking on a trip to Italy, added that the haze was also affecting Malaysia's economy.

Indonesia has for years faced pressure from its neighbours to act but the haze recurs annually to varying degrees.

Singapore officials last week expressed impatience with Indonesia, and Malaysia's Najib said the three countries must work together to formulate an effective strategy to tackle the annual environmental disaster.

Poor air quality forced the cancellation of major events at the weekend.

In Singapore races in the FINA World Championship -- swimming's World Cup -- were called off on Saturday, and one of Malaysia's biggest marathons set for Sunday in Kuala Lumpur was cancelled.

JAMBI/BANGKOK — Two persons were killed in a speedboat crash caused by poor visibility in the Indonesian province of Jambi, which has been enveloped in thick haze for months.

Skipper Daenk Manggata, 45, said he was unable to see well when docking the vessel amid thick haze on Sunday morning (Oct 4), sending the speedboat into a column before it capsized with 18 on board.

A crew member, identified as 26-year-old Amirduin, and 60-year-old passenger Subaidah were killed in the incident while the rest of those on board were rescued by port officials and bystanders, reported Jakarta Globe.

Local authorities estimated visibility at just 100m at the time of the accident.

The accident in Jambi, which is on the island of Sumatra, comes amid one of South-east Asia’s most serious environmental pollution, which has persisted for about a month.

Schools in Malaysia and Singapore have closed when the haze has been heavy, sports events have been cancelled and tourism operators are fretting. Health authorities across the region have warned people to avoid exercise on bad days.

The haze has also spread to Thailand yesterday, the first time it has reached hazardous levels so far north, highlighting the regional nature of a problem that is being blamed on Indonesia’s inability to prevent big plantation companies from burning forests to clear land for new trees.

Thai environment officials said the level of pollution from Indonesia has risen sharply in the south of the country, near the Malaysian border, and health authorities were issuing face masks and opening hotlines to provide advice.

Dr Wijarn Simachaya, the director general of Thailand’s Pollution Control Department, told The Associated Press that “the situation is getting worse”.

“We didn’t think it would be bad this year, but it is,” he said.

Indonesia has come under pressure in the past few weeks to contain the annual haze crisis, which is caused by slash-and-burn agriculture on Sumatra island and the Indonesian part of Borneo island.

Companies seeking to clear land for palm oil and pulp wood plantations have been accused of encouraging the fires that often smoulder for weeks in underground peat deposits.

The problem has been exacerbated this year by the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has brought unusually dry conditions.

Indonesia says more than 200 companies, most of them from South-east Asia, are being investigated on suspicion of causing fires.

The Indonesian police said yesterday that one company from Australia, palm oil plantation operator PT Kayung Agro Lestari (KAL), and one from China were among them.

A representative of KAL, a subsidiary of PT Austindo Nusantara Jaya Agri, said it was “not accurate to call KAL an Australian company” and that only 0.01 per cent of it was owned by an Australian citizen. He said the company was cooperating with the investigation.

The police did not identify the Chinese company.

Indonesia has repeatedly declined offers of help from neighbouring countries to help put out the fires. AGENCIES

How to keep up the pressure against haze
NISID HAJARI Today Online 6 Oct 15;

Singapore is starting to look like Beijing or New Delhi. That is because you cannot see it through the haze. Smog has disrupted outdoor events, forced schools to close and sent commuters running for their surgical masks.

Singaporeans know why. Every year during the dry season, farmers and plantation companies light fires on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo to clear land for farming and for the production of paper and palm oil. Wind carries the smoke across the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.

An especially bad episode in 1997 caused regional outrage and an estimated US$9 billion (S$12.8 billion) in economic damage. Nearly two decades later, in 2013, air pollution readings in Singapore and Malaysia topped 400 and 700, respectively. (Anything above 301 is considered hazardous.) An El Nino weather pattern this year has raised fears that smoggy skies could persist into 2016.

On paper at least, regional governments have finally heeded calls to do something about the problem.

Last year, Indonesia ratified an agreement that calls on countries to combat burning and share information. In May, the government extended a moratorium on clearing forests and peat land. Local laws are tough: Anyone responsible for setting fires can be sentenced to 15 years in jail and fined up to US$350,000. Singapore, where several big paper and palm-oil companies are headquartered, has established fines of up to S$2 million for corporations that enable or condone burning that pollutes the city-state.

Businesses have begun to regulate themselves. Many have adopted zero-deforestation pledges, while industry groups have established certification for sustainably produced palm oil, which is sold at a premium. Companies can also buy credits to offset their purchases of uncertified palm oil, thus funding what remains a niche market.

Haze measures need time

The challenges are obvious, of course. Many of these measures will need time to have an impact. Under Indonesia’s decentralised system, instituted in 2001, the central government has little sway at ground level, where local officials often profit from existing arrangements. Enforcement is weak.

Small-scale farmers may be responsible for much of the burning. Pinpointing the source of fires is complicated by overlapping land claims. Chasing down and arresting peasants would be time-consuming and fruitless. Indonesian authorities would be better off educating farmers about the dangers of burning and helping them pay for more expensive, alternate land-clearing techniques.

That hardly means the government is helpless, though. As bad as the air may be in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, it is positively apocalyptic in places like the Indonesian province of Kalimantan, on Borneo, where a pollution index reached nearly 2,000 last month. The authorities could try encouraging local watchdog groups by increasing rewards for whistleblowers.

Prosecutors need to deter would-be scofflaws by winning more high-profile cases like the one that recently resulted in a US$25.6 million fine against the palm-oil company PT Kallista Alam, for setting fires in Aceh province. At the very least, the central government could help identify offenders by more readily supplying concession maps for a regional monitoring system, and speeding up plans to consolidate conflicting land-use maps into a single, accepted version.

Companies could do more, too. Even if they adhere to strict standards themselves, they face no penalties for failing to scrutinise how their suppliers conduct business, or how the land they buy was cleared.

Most effective of all might be a strategy to target these companies’ funding. Banks, sovereign wealth funds and private-equity investors could urge better behaviour by restricting their loans and investments to companies that adhere to environmental, social and governance standards that can be independently audited. Singapore’s Monetary Authority could have an immediate impact by establishing stewardship codes to guide investment decisions by local banks and government-linked entities.

Customers also have a role to play. They can demand better labelling of products that use palm oil to highlight those using sustainable producers. More countries could follow the lead of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which intend to import only sustainably-sourced palm oil.

At some point, this year’s haze will give way to blue skies. Only sustained pressure, from several angles, will keep it from returning. BLOOMBERG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nisid Hajari, who is based in Singapore, writes editorials on Asia. He was previously managing editor and foreign editor of Newsweek magazine, as well as managing editor of Newsweek International.

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesia has turned down Malaysia’s offer to help put out fires in Sumatera and Kalimantan which have been named the main cause of the current cross-border haze.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said his ministry, the Defence Ministry and relevant agencies were prepared to assist Indonesia, but the latter was not receptive to any form of assistance.

“We’re angry and frustrated about this (haze), but there’s nothing much that Malaysia can do as the problem is based (in Indonesia).

“The public must understand that the haze is not caused by us. If it’s an internal issue, we could have detained the offenders and brought them to justice.

“But, we can’t do so with Indonesian companies involved in slash-and-burn and open burning. Even Malaysian-owned companies in Indonesia are subject to their laws,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Wan Junaidi said a number of Malaysian-owned companies had declared that they did not practise slash-and-burn clearing of the jungle, but it was still up to Indonesia to investigate the matter and take action.

“We believe Indonesia is taking action against the people who caused this,” he said.

On Singapore’s move to take legal action against Singapore-owned companies in Indonesia, Wan Junaidi said it was feasible as it was in accordance with its Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014.

He said Malaysia, however, did not have an act to sue the parties responsible for burning activities in Indonesia. However, he said, such an act was still in its proposal stage in the ministry.

Wan Junaidi said the ministry had been requesting for a one-day meeting with Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar to, resolve the transboundary haze issue, including discussing details of the Transboundary Haze Act similar to Singapore’s.

“I had requested for a one-day meeting, yet there has not been any reply from Indonesia so far. We can only resolve this if both parties sit together.”

Speaking on environmentalists’ calls for Malaysia’s top leaders to push the Indonesian government to take action against those conducting open burning, Wan Junaidi said: “We can’t make assumptions without knowing if they have or haven’t taken action.

“Indonesia has investigated about 200 companies to date. There is also open burning done by the locals. We’ve been informed that they are stepping up enforcement.

“It doesn’t matter whether its Indonesian, Malaysian or Singaporean companies, Indonesia must take a tough stance against anybody who does it.

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- Penang MCA has called on the government to ask the Indonesian government to compensate Malaysia for the losses incurred in tackling the haze issue.

Its chairman, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, said this was because Malaysia had been suffering the choking haze each year, which was caused by forest fires in Indonesia.

"It is ridiculous for them not to solve this problem. I think we should ask them to compensate...Children can't go to school and yet you don't have time for them to replace.

"At the same time, nobody will come to visit Malaysia. Our hawkers' businesses have also dropped by 30 per cent. I think medical expenses for most people have also gone up (due to haze)," she told reporters at the Mid-Autumn Gathering here tonight.

Chew, who is also Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, also advised parents, as well as nursery and kindergarten operators, to limit children's outdoor activities.